Find maximum W for a generator

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Homework Statement


So a generation with an internal resistance r delivers a voltage E. The generator is connected to a electrical circuit with a resistance R. The work W done each second in sending a current through a circuit with a resistance R is given by W =E^2*R/(R+r)^2.

For constant r and E, show that W is a maximum when R=r. Sketch a graph of W as a function of R

Homework Equations


v=ir

The Attempt at a Solution


So, I am confused. I have solved for R, which is

R= (E^2/(2W))-r

If someone can explain the question, I will try to answer to question.

P.S it may look like a question from some electrical engineering book but its from a calculus book -.- (no answer)
 
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SagarPatil said:

Homework Statement


So a generation generator with an internal resistance r delivers a voltage E. The generator is connected to a electrical circuit with a resistance R. The work W done each second in sending a current through a circuit with a resistance R is given by W =E^2*R/(R+r)^2.

For constant r and E, show that W is a maximum when R=r. Sketch a graph of W as a function of R

Homework Equations


v=ir

The Attempt at a Solution


So, I am confused. I have solved for R, which is

R= (E^2/(2W))-r
Solving for R won't help you. To find the maximum value of a function of a single variable (R here, since r and E are assumed to be constants), find the derivative W'(R) and set it to zero.
SagarPatil said:
If someone can explain the question, I will try to answer to question.

P.S it may look like a question from some electrical engineering book but its from a calculus book -.- (no answer)
 
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BTW, in the future, please try to choose a thread title that is more informative. I have changed the title to "Find maximum W for a generator".
 
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Mark44 said:
Solving for R won't help you. To find the maximum value of a function of a single variable (R here, since r and E are assumed to be constants), find the derivative W'(R) and set it to zero.

Okay, I have done some work. I found the derivative of W'(R) and set it to 0. Here is what I got
upload_2015-11-25_17-24-52.png
 
SagarPatil said:
Okay, I have done some work. I found the derivative of W'(R) and set it to 0. Here is what I got
View attachment 92408
You're not interested in dW/dx, whatever x is. You want to calculate dW/dR and set that equal to zero, not set R = 0. You also want to show that W is a maximum when r = R.

BTW, if you express W as the product of two expressions, rather than the quotient, you can save yourself some calculation when finding the derivative.
 
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SteamKing said:
You're not interested in dW/dx, whatever x is. You want to calculate dW/dR and set that equal to zero, not set R = 0. You also want to show that W is a maximum when r = R.

BTW, if you express W as the product of two expressions, rather than the quotient, you can save yourself some calculation when finding the derivative.

I find product of two expression harder to do.

So I derived for dW/DR and this is what I got
upload_2015-11-29_17-20-47.png


If I set R = 0
I would just get 0.
 

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Here's what I said earlier, in post #2.
Mark44 said:
Solving for R won't help you. To find the maximum value of a function of a single variable (R here, since r and E are assumed to be constants), find the derivative W'(R) and set it to zero.

I didn't say anything about setting R to zero -- I said you should set W'(R) to zero.
 
SagarPatil said:
I find product of two expression harder to do.

I find that astounding.

If f(x) = g(x) * h(x), then f'(x) = g(x) * h'(x) + g'(x)*h(x)

whereas

if f(x) = g(x) / h(x), then f'(x) = [g'(x)* h(x) - g(x)*h'(x)] / h2(x)
So I derived for dW/DR and this is what I got
View attachment 92600
Which is incorrect, BTW.
If I set R = 0
I would just get 0.

And Mark44 is right. You don't set R = 0, you set dW/dR = 0, which is different. But you must calculate the correct expression for dW/dR.
 
SteamKing said:
I find that astounding.

If f(x) = g(x) * h(x), then f'(x) = g(x) * h'(x) + g'(x)*h(x)

whereas

if f(x) = g(x) / h(x), then f'(x) = [g'(x)* h(x) - g(x)*h'(x)] / h2(x)

Which is incorrect, BTW.And Mark44 is right. You don't set R = 0, you set dW/dR = 0, which is different. But you must calculate the correct expression for dW/dR.

So, I was wondering, When you find the expression of dW/dR, do you need to find the second derivation of it to graph it or just find the fist derivation of dW/dR and set it to 0.
 
  • #10
SagarPatil said:
So, I was wondering, When you find the expression of dW/dR, do you need to find the second derivation of it to graph it or just find the fist derivation of dW/dR and set it to 0.
The value of R which makes dW/dR = 0 is the value which either maximizes or minimizes W.

It should be easy to determine which is which without calculating d2W/dR2
 
  • #11
SteamKing said:
The value of R which makes dW/dR = 0 is the value which either maximizes or minimizes W.

It should be easy to determine which is which without calculating d2W/dR2

So I found the expression for dW/dR
upload_2015-12-3_18-51-35.png


After the deravation, if I set dW/dR to 0, and set r and E to 1, I get a L shape graph. The x and y basically start from origin and y is + and x is positive
 

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  • #12
Please post your work as text rather than as an image. Posting an image makes it impossible for us to insert a comment at the point of a mistake. Instead, we have to give the location where you are in error, which makes more work for us.

SagarPatil said:
So I found the expression for dW/dR
View attachment 92843

After the deravation, if I set dW/dR to 0, and set r and E to 1, I get a L shape graph.
There is no need to set r and E to any particular values.

"Keep your eye on the prize." -- the goal here is to show that W is at its largest when R = r.
SagarPatil said:
The x and y basically start from origin and y is + and x is positive
The variables are R and W. Neither x nor y appear in this problem.

What you ended with is correct, but it can be written in a slightly more simplified form:
##\frac{dW}{dR} = \frac{E^2(r - R)}{(R + r)^3}##
What does it take for a fraction to be zero? There is absolutely nothing to gain by expanding ##(R + r)^3##.
 
  • #13
SagarPatil said:
So I found the expression for dW/dR
View attachment 92843

After the deravation, if I set dW/dR to 0, and set r and E to 1, I get a L shape graph. The x and y basically start from origin and y is + and x is positive
The first line of your work contains an error.

W = E2*R/(R+r)2 not dW/dR = E2*R/(R+r)2

You would run into less algebra if you wrote

W = E2*R * (R+r)-2

and then used the Product Rule to find dW/dR
 
  • #14
if somebody has full solution to this problem pls post an image solving or a word file.
 
  • #15
SagarPatil said:

Homework Statement


So a generation with an internal resistance r delivers a voltage E. The generator is connected to a electrical circuit with a resistance R. The work W done each second in sending a current through a circuit with a resistance R is given by W =E^2*R/(R+r)^2.

For constant r and E, show that W is a maximum when R=r. Sketch a graph of W as a function of R

Homework Equations


v=ir

The Attempt at a Solution


So, I am confused. I have solved for R, which is

R= (E^2/(2W))-r

If someone can explain the question, I will try to answer to question.

P.S it may look like a question from some electrical engineering book but its from a calculus book -.- (no answer)
Its actually the 'Maximum power transfer theorem' in electrical engineering.
W=E2*R/(R+r)2.
Find dW/dR and equate it to 0 as already explained in #13 by SteamKing.
 
  • #16
cnh1995 said:
Its actually the 'maximum power transfer theorem' from electrical engineering.
W=E2*R/(R+r)2.
Find dW/dR and equate it to 0 as already explained in #13 by SteamKing.

I have found the solution to the answer. Thanks for helping everyone
 
  • #17
gag1234 said:
if somebody has full solution to this problem pls post an image solving or a word file.
We don't do that here. From the rules for this forum:
From the rules (https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/physics-forums-global-guidelines.414380/):
Giving Full Answers:
On helping with questions: Any and all assistance given to homework assignments or textbook style exercises should be given only after the questioner has shown some effort in solving the problem. If no attempt is made then the questioner should be asked to provide one before any assistance is given. Complete solutions can be provided to a questioner after the questioner has arrived at a correct solution. If the questioner has not produced a correct solution, complete solutions are not permitted, whether or not an attempt has been made.
 
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